Becky DeVos started her Senate confirmation hearing by defending the inclusion of guns in school because of “protection from Grizzly Bears” and then things got weird and tense.

Al Franken began to question DeVos about simple education policy and she failed to grasp a very basic but important concept in learning.

Franken asked DeVos is student success should be based on “growth” or “proficiency,” and she didn’t understand the question.

“I think, if I’m understanding your question correctly around proficiency, I would also correlate it to competency and mastery, so that each student is measured according to the advancement they’re making in each subject area,” she said.

“Well, that’s growth. That’s not proficiency,” Franken replied. “I’m talking about the debate between proficiency and growth and what your thoughts are on that.”

She asked him to “clarify” the question and he was dumbfounded.

“It surprises me that you don’t know this issue,” Fraklin said incredulously. “And Mr. Chairman, I think this a good reason for us to have more questions.”